Compiled by Alexandra Hall
The Collegian staff compiled a collection of reviews about some of the films released this summer.
“Top Gun: Maverick”
By: Josh Hypes | Political Correspondent
★★★★★
“Top Gun: Maverick” provided a viewing experience rare in modern-day thrillers: a gripping patriotic story with a relatable cast of characters aided by jaw-dropping cinematography. “Top Gun: Maverick” immediately pulls you into the cockpit 30 years after the events of the original 1986 “Top Gun.” Top Navy aviator Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, played by Tom Cruise, must lead a squad of young aviators through a dangerous mission to destroy a secret nuclear arms facility. The immersive aspect of the film’s battles and stakes builds a palpable amount of suspense that keeps you on the edge of your seat. “Maverick” surpasses the original “Top Gun” to become a definitive viewing experience that’s well worth your time.
“Elvis”
By: Meghan Shultz | Features Editor
★★★★☆
Baz Luhrmann gave summertime moviegoers a version of Elvis gripping enough attention for the two-hour-and-39 minute runtime, but perhaps not one rich enough. The dazzling visuals and riveting, emotional, and downright fun performances by lead Austin Butler created an engaging film encouraging its viewers to feel what its characters felt. Sight and sound overwhelmed the viewer with not just the look, but the experience, of a tragic life. Angled from the view of Elvis’ manipulative manager Colonel Tom Parker, played by Tom Hanks, the narration took a creative, behind-the-scenes approach that lacked true insight into the mind of Elvis himself. Still, Butler’s performance made it easy to believe it was the King himself arching his eyebrows and belting “Hound Dog” on screen.
“Where the Crawdads Sing”
By: Hannah Cote | Outreach Director
★★★☆☆
If “Where the Crawdads Sing” wasn’t preceded by an eerie, poetic, treasure of a book, the movie would remain a job well done. Unfortunately, while the book offers a sublime and spooky swamp tale about the “marsh girl,” seamlessly floating between storylines of present and past times, the movie lacks execution in both these areas. The ending—which I won’t spoil—feels choppy in the film, missing out on many opportunities for the cruel twist that author Delia Owens originally orchestrated. Stream the movie when it’s free on Netflix, but don’t pass up Owens’ magical, thought-provoking writing beforehand.
“Marcel the Shell with Shoes On”
Alexandra Hall | Assistant Editor
★★★★★
What once only existed as a Youtube series in the rich depths of internet lore has now become a full-length feature film. Cinema’s golden production company, A24 (“Midsommar,” “Lady Bird”), released “Marcel the Shell with Shoes On” late this June, and it was easily the most hopeful thing I consumed all summer. Amidst thrillers, book adaptations, and revisited stores, Marcel is a silent leader. The one-inch tall shell is the subject of an AirBnb guest who films a documentary about his life and trying to find his long-lost shell family. A tale about friendship, family, and fortune ensues, all from the confines of bedroom drawers and nooks in a home.
“Nope”
Claire Gaudet | Sports Editor
★★★★☆
Jordan Peele’s “Nope” is a delight for fans of science fiction, horror, and — oddly enough — humor. Yes, despite making me fear for my life at the hands of aliens, chimpanzees, and even quarters, “Nope” was also very funny. Both Keke Palmer and Brandon Perea provide the kind of comic relief that leaves you strangely at ease while still being on the edge of your seat. Moreover, the plot lends itself to the kind of set design that makes films fun to watch, no matter what’s going on in the foreground of the shot. Therefore, it’s the perfect movie to convince your friend who “literally cannot even watch horror movies” to go see.
“Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris”
By: Michael Bachmann | Assistant Editor
★★★★★
“Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris” is a delightful adaptation of the 1959 novel of the same name. It follows the ebulliently magnanimous house cleaner Mrs. Ada Harris as she journey’s to Paris to buy a Dior dress. A lighthearted romp through the glitz of 1950s high fashion, the movie is surprisingly poignant at times. It is a wonderful expression of what our relationship to the material world should be. When Ada becomes captivated by a ball gown after finding one in her client’s closet, she does not desire it for her own vanity or acquisition. She revels in it simply for its beauty. As the film progresses, the audience sees the painstaking labor involved in creating a dress, further elevating the adorned piece of cloth into a remedy for both body and soul.
Although the movie could easily fall victim to its fairy-tale trappings, it never does. Ada experiences personal heartbreak and watches as her own selflessness crushes her dreams. These doses of realism turn the movie into a positively charming story about following your dreams that also serves as a cautionary warning against unfettered kindness.
